Hundreds of physicians, medical students, residents and fellows met in Orlando, Fla., to consider a wide array of proposals designed to help fulfill the AMA's core mission of promoting medicine and improving public health. These are the top stories from AMA Wire® news coverage of the meeting.
AMA prepared to engage new administration on health reform
The AMA’s House of Delegates, representing 170 state and specialty medical societies, adopted a resolution voicing “firm commitment” to current AMA policy on health care reform. In its discussions with the Trump administration and Congress, the AMA will continue efforts to cover the uninsured and work to assure that future proposals do not result in loss of coverage for patients currently insured. Read more
Physicians back steps toward value-based drug pricing
Value-based pricing has the potential to reduce prescription drug spending in the U.S. And with recent spikes in drug prices directly affecting patients, delegates looked to address increases by adopting new guiding principles to support value-based prescription drug pricing. Read more
Physician who discovered CTE in NFL players gets AMA's highest honor
As the physician who made the initial discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in an NFL player in 2002, forensic neuropathologist Bennet I. Omalu, MD, MBA, MPH, overcame massive efforts to discredit him and his research. Today CTE is widely recognized as a health risk in millions of patients with histories of repetitive brain trauma, including military veterans. The AMA honored Dr. Omalu with its Distinguished Service Award. Read more
Easing student loan debt one of several new med ed policies
The AMA adopted several policies aimed at alleviating medical student loan debt, integrating mental illness and addiction treatment into training programs, and giving physicians in training more leadership and community health work opportunities. Read more
Big changes ahead in medicine require bold leadership
The AMA is making strides toward becoming a model for professional associations through its commitment to ambitious goals and partnership-building efforts that yield real-world results, said AMA Executive Vice President and CEO James L. Madara, MD, during the meeting’s opening session. Read more
As care team leaders, physicians should set right tone
The AMA has adopted new policy that lays out the ethical obligations that physicians have to lead and participate in the team-based care model that research shows can improve health care quality and patient outcomes, enhance care access and slow the rate of medical spending while reducing burnout among health professionals. Read more
Wounded veterans deserve infertility benefits
The Veterans Health Administration doesn’t cover assisted-reproductive technology benefits, including IVF, even though war injuries can cause infertility. Newly adopted AMA policy says that should change. Read more
Policy aims driven by physicians’ core values
“This week we shared a moment of tremendous impact in our country,” AMA President Andrew W. Gurman, MD, said of the recent presidential election during the meeting’s opening session. “The policies that have been developed by this House of Delegates serve our patients and professions well. These are our guides: our mission, our policies and our values.” Read more
Public health concerns prompt physician policy
Delegates adopted several policies to promote the health of the nation. Public health issues addressed include distracted driving, dangerous coal-tar sealcoats and smoking among youth. Read more
Joining the call for action to stem tide of gun violence
The AMA has joined an advocacy effort, started by leading organizations representing physicians, public health professionals and attorneys, aimed at reducing gun-related deaths and injuries. The document seeks universal background checks on gun purchases, restrictions on the sale of military-style weapons and large-capacity magazines to civilians and more research on how to cut morbidity and mortality involving firearms. Read more
See full coverage of the meeting.
